I started seriously playing when I was 19.

First memorable was the G3 tour with my brothers and Travis Shore. Steve Vai played "For the Love of God"

Depends on which band/style I'm playing. For Bloodline Severed "Letters to Decapolis" album I've been using a Carvin DC727 (7-String) and an Agile 8-string running into a Splawn QR, Maxon OD808 and then a Splawn 4X12 cab. For the newer Bloodline Severed songs I'll be using mainly the Agile 8 into a Peavey Ultra Lead and Splawn 4X12 cab.
For the Open the Eye studio project I've been using a Carvin CT3, which was my main guitar during the Bloodline Severed "Visions Revealed" album. Basically just recording into Garageband while demoing and writing using an Apogee jam interface. Also using a Fender Strat for the OtE cleaner parts.

Metallica, a friend I rode to high school with introduced me to the And Justice for All album. As my passion for music grew I was introduced to Dream Theater, Opeth and then Meshuggah. I would say those three bands are my main influence. But then I love a good breakdown from bands like For Today, Impending Doom and A Plea for Purging. I also really enjoy doom metal, blues, experimental stuff. So bands like Daylight Dies, Katatonia, Swallow the Sun, Joe Bonamassa, OSI, Blotted Science, Pink Floyd, Chimp Spanner and Animals as Leaders have been creeping into the musical landscape recently.

Current - Bloodline Severed and Open the Eye. Past bands - Halfwake and Third Dimension.